Photo: Elemaki · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Uruguay: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
Uruguay is placed 78th of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 40.87 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.06 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
78th
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Uruguay on poverty & inequality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 3
Gini Index
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Uruguay’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
40.87
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
Uruguay: 40.87. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.
- World median
- 33.72
- Best in South America
- 39.18 Suriname
- Land neighbours
- Argentina 42.39 · Brazil 51.49
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Uruguay’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
0.06
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
Uruguay: 0.06. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.
- World median
- 0.345
- Best in South America
- 0.06 Uruguay
- Land neighbours
- Argentina 0.35 · Brazil 1.34
Key 3 of 3
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
32
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
Uruguay: 32. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Belarus) to 93.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 26.4.
- World median
- 26.4
- Best in South America
- 9.3 Guyana
- Land neighbours
- Brazil 21.1
02Over time
Which way Uruguay is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Gini Index
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) · lower is better
UruguayWorld median
Uruguay fell from 45.94 in 2006 to 40.87 in 2023; the world median went from 35.63 to 33.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Uruguay World median 2023 40.87 33.72 2022 40.55 33.91 2021 40.78 34.04 2020 40.16 34.18 2019 39.68 33.51 2018 39.69 35.25 2017 39.46 34.86 2016 39.70 34.47 2015 40.13 35.52 2014 40.11 34.79 2013 40.45 36.16 2012 39.90 35.40 2011 42.18 33.96 2010 44.47 33.71 2009 45.54 34.91 2008 45.08 34.60 2007 46.40 34.26 2006 45.94 35.63 2005 — 36.28 2004 — 34.29 2003 — 35.46 2002 — 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
UruguayWorld median
Uruguay fell from 0.21 in 2006 to 0.06 in 2023; the world median went from 0.465 to 0.345.
Every year’s figures
Year Uruguay World median 2023 0.06 0.345 2022 0.07 0.420 2021 0.06 0.335 2020 0.09 0.280 2019 0.05 0.380 2018 0.03 0.460 2017 0.03 0.300 2016 0.04 0.440 2015 0.06 0.500 2014 0.05 0.635 2013 0.07 0.515 2012 0.06 0.640 2011 0.06 0.430 2010 0.08 0.530 2009 0.10 0.600 2008 0.08 0.350 2007 0.15 0.360 2006 0.21 0.465 2005 — 1.250 2004 — 0.790 2003 — 1.650 2002 — 3.010 Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) · lower is better
UruguayWorld median
Uruguay rose from 30.7 in 2017 to 32 in 2025; the world median went from 32.4 to 26.4.
Every year’s figures
Year Uruguay World median 2025 32.0 26.40 2024 33.2 27.10 2023 35.4 27.15 2022 35.5 27.90 2021 37.4 29.65 2020 37.6 31.80 2019 32.8 29.05 2018 32.0 29.85 2017 30.7 32.40
03In context
Uruguay beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.
Uruguay and the countries it borders
Standing among all 159; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Gini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) | Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) | Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietShare of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 78th | 40.87 | 0.06 | 32 |
 Argentina | 100th | 42.39 | 0.35 | — |
 Brazil | 113th | 51.49 | 1.34 | 21.1 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below Uruguay in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Uruguay is ahead of the world, and behind
29 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median17
Statistics on which Uruguay does better than the middle country measured.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.170.25No real change since 2014
Uruguay: 0.17 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.264.0921.26No earlier reading
Uruguay: 4.09 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 108th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2520.1754.252No earlier reading
Uruguay: 0.175 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 147th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.14.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Uruguay: 0.1 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.1060.413No real change since 2013
Uruguay: 0.106 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.
Position 147th of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.10.162.1No real change since 2014
Uruguay: 0.16 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.930.170.93▲ Improved since 2013
Uruguay: 0.17 · world median 0.93 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 49th of 58 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6535.2318.65No earlier reading
Uruguay: 35.23 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.1850.040.185No real change since 2013
Uruguay: 0.04 · world median 0.185 · Squared poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (0–100). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 9.74; lower is better.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.7470.609No real change since 2013
Uruguay: 0.747 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 53rd of 169 · derived.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80020,64912,800▲ Improved since 2017
Uruguay: 20,649 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 57th of 173 · derived.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.340.751.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Uruguay: 0.75 · world median 1.34 · Population below $4.20 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 72.3; lower is better.
Position 40th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0512.8617.05No real change since 2013
Uruguay: 12.86 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 109th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.915.520.9▼ Worsened since 2018
Uruguay: 15.5 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 77th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.7541.4621.754▼ Worsened since 2013
Uruguay: 1.462 · world median 1.754 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.406 to 12.06; lower is better.
Position 33rd of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Median Daily Income or Consumption per PersonWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 22.7625.8822.76▼ Worsened since 2013
Uruguay: 25.88 · world median 22.76 · Median income or consumption per person, 2021 PPP dollars a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.803 to 89.49; higher is better.
Position 29th of 60 · derived.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.826.597.82▼ Worsened since 2013
Uruguay: 6.59 · world median 7.82 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 93.58; lower is better.
Position 31st of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Uruguay does worse than the middle country measured.
Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.8921.7817.89▲ Improved since 2020
Uruguay: 21.78 · world median 17.89 · Employees paid less than two-thirds of the median hourly earnings (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.395 to 41.69; lower is better.
Position 25th of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.
Societal Poverty RateWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 17.221.1817.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Uruguay: 21.18 · world median 17.2 · Population below the societal poverty line, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 7 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 21st of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gini Index of Monthly EarningsILO · 2024 · world median 0.3370.3680.337▼ Worsened since 2014
Uruguay: 0.368 · world median 0.337 · Gini index of employees’ monthly earnings (0 = all paid the same, 1 = maximum inequality). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.182 to 0.643; lower is better.
Position 24th of 75 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · 2023 · world median 3338.533▼ Worsened since 2013
Uruguay: 38.5 · world median 33 · Gini index of disposable household income (0–100), SWIID estimate. Frederick Solt, University of Iowa, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 22.3 to 51.2; lower is better.
Position 22nd of 79 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Share Held by Richest 10%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 26.1830.7826.18▼ Worsened since 2013
Uruguay: 30.78 · world median 26.18 · Share of national income or consumption held by the richest tenth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 18.79 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 16th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.5190.446No earlier reading
Uruguay: 0.519 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 36th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.125.577.12No real change since 2013
Uruguay: 5.57 · world median 7.12 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.24 to 11.07; higher is better.
Position 46th of 60 · derived.
Income Growth of the Poorest 40%World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.8410.3271.841▼ Worsened since 2014
Uruguay: 0.327 · world median 1.841 · Annualized growth in real income or consumption per person of the bottom 40% (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -4.185 to 14.51; higher is better.
Palma RatioWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.3321.9431.332▼ Worsened since 2013
Uruguay: 1.943 · world median 1.332 · Palma ratio (income share of the richest 10% ÷ share of the poorest 40%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.771 to 4.193; lower is better.
Position 13th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.544.55Moved since 2017
Uruguay: 4.54 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 21.817.321.8No earlier reading
Uruguay: 17.3 · world median 21.8 · Population below the national poverty line (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 82.3.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.882.3436.88No earlier reading
Uruguay: 2.343 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
No current reading for Uruguay
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index and Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Poverty & Inequality among Uruguay’s 16 topics
Poverty & Inequality is Uruguay’s 15th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Energy10th of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Security14th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties23rd of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions31st of 1944/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade37th of 1773/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability40th of 1863/4 keys
- Digital & Technology43rd of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital45th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing54th of 2004/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge55th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation51st of 1764/4 keys
- Gender & Equality59th of 1834/4 keys
- Work & Labour62nd of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience81st of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality78th of 1593/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture105th of 1844/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders Uruguay can most readily be measured against.
1
BelarusEastern Europe
1st of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
=3
UkraineEastern Europe
Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Canada28th3/3 keysHighest in South America
Uruguay78th3/3 keys
Positions out of 159 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Uruguay on poverty & inequality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Uruguay rank on poverty & inequality?
Uruguay is placed 78th of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for Uruguay?
40.87 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.
What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for Uruguay?
0.06 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.
How does Uruguay compare with Brazil on poverty & inequality?
Brazil is placed 113th of 159, and Uruguay 78th. Gini Index: Brazil 51.49, Uruguay 40.87; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: Brazil 1.34, Uruguay 0.06; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet: Brazil 21.1, Uruguay 32.
How have Uruguay’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index fell from 45.94 in 2006 to 40.87 in 2023; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day fell from 0.21 in 2006 to 0.06 in 2023; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet rose from 30.7 in 2017 to 32 in 2025.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for Uruguay?
No current reading is published for Uruguay on Global Multidimensional Poverty Index and Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.
How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The poverty & inequality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Gini Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 29 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Uruguay’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Uruguay (banner) — Elemaki, CC BY 3.0
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- Ukraine — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Uruguay: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/uruguay/poverty